Physically handicapped children in long-stay hospitals.

Six thousand five hundred handicapped children live permanently in long-stay hospitals, where their needs may not be met because of lack of resources within the hospital, eg. there is a shortage of therapy staff in long-stay hospitals. These children could be accommodated in the community if local authorities were prepared to make adequate residential provision for them. The children are likely to suffer emotional distress in hospital, because there is a grave shortage of nursing staff and very little understanding about the mothering needs of children in institutions. This paper is based on some of the findings of a 2-year study into the care of 223 multiply handicapped children in eight mental handicap hospitals. The study was financed by the Spastics Society, and undertaken from the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the University of London Institute of Education.